Pictures of PALS

[jimercat]

jrienecker had a good idea and posted pics of her father.

I thought it would be nice if we could put faces on our PALS!

Please post if you can!

Here is my husband on his last day of work the end of 03/07===
Backyard camping in 07/07===
Christmas 07===
Still having fun but using right hand now 02/08===

[CindyM]

Tell him I said he is a handsome guy, CJ. these sort of photos explain to the world why somebody can be quite disabled but not "look sick." Thanks for sharing!

[Icanmanz]

Great pics, CJ.

Irma

[whimsy_1971]

http://www.alsforums.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=4&pictureid=12






This is my wonderful husband last christmas. This was shortly after his diagnoses.

[Jeannie]

Great pictures, I think this is a fabulous idea, thank you for sharing your family with us
In Friendship
Jeannie

[jimercat]

Hey Christy!

Nice to see the smile on your husband's face!

Hope more can share their photos...

[andyvaughn]

What a great idea!! Here is a pix of my handsome hubby, Jim, on our wedding day, 5/10/03.

[jimercat]

We've all got fine catches!

[paula-jane]

Here is a pic of my beautiful mum taken April 2005, she was diagnosed March 2007 and passed away March 2008. It's been very difficult learning to live without her, but, I remember the day this picture was taken and it was a great day.
That day, ALS was a disease we knew nothing about.

"Many years have passed since those summer days,
Among the fields of barley.
See the children run as the sun goes down,
As you lie in fields of gold.

You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
As we walked in fields of gold."

[Icanmanz]

Paula, that is such a beautiful pic of your Mom. May she rest in peace. Thanks for sharing.

Irma

[Coach's Wife]

I would love to see the pics but am not yet permitted to do so...how many posts do I have to have? :cry:

Louie
former CALS to husband Jeff (aka Grumpy Old Coach) 7-5-2007

[jimercat]

Thanks Paula for that beautiful pic of your Mum and the beautiful poem!

Louie:

Could it be your browser preventing you from viewing the pics?

[JAKE]

Paula Jane,

Your mom was a beautiful lady. May God give you and your family the comfort and peace that you need in the days ahead. Wayne

[Paty]

My husband Jorge and his mother, Dec. 31, 2005 we were celebrating the last day of the yr. two month's after his Dx. at that time he could still walk with help.


Love

Paty
Baja California, México
CALS TO LATE HUSBAND JORGE
Dx. 10/17/05
Passed away Dec. 30, 2007

[Icanmanz]

Nice pic, Paty. How is Jorge's mom doing? God bless!

Irma

[Coach's Wife]

[QUOTE=
Louie:

Could it be your browser preventing you from viewing the pics?[/QUOTE]

How do I check/fix that? I use IE.

Signed,
Missing the good pics of all our PALS!

[Al]

Hi coach's wife. I've sent you a private message.
AL.

[trustinggod]

These are two pictures of Linda on her last Birthday, March 7, 2006.

The first one is with her two kids and the second one is at the surprise Birthday party her girlfriends threw for her.

Linda passed away on November 18, 2006 4 and 1/2 years after dx.

[trustinggod]

This is a picture of Linda in New York City (1/06) all wrapped up to keep warm. She could barely lift her arms but her hands still worked well enough to feed herself and she could still talk (with much effort). We bought a battery operated heated blanket to use in her wheelchair as we strolled around the city. Linda, myself and another friend as well as our 17 year old daughters (friends since kindergarten) enjoyed 5 days in NYC staying at the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel as a fullfillment of Linda's long held dream to visit the Big Apple.

[Icanmanz]

Thank you trusting, for sharing those nice pics of Linda with us. She was a very beautiful lady. She still looked good in spite of her ilness, bless her soul, may she rest in peace. How old was Linda when she passed? Again, thank you, and God bless.

Irma

[trustinggod]

Hi Irma,

Yes, Linda looked good the entire time she was sick. Looking sick was one of her greatest fears when first dx. She insisted each day (with the exception of the last week) that she get up, shower and have her hair & makeup perfectly done. Also, she always wore "regular" clothes and of course her jewelry!

Looking back today it's hard to remember how frustrated I'd feel spending two or more hours getting her showered, made up and dressed for the day and have her ask me to hold the magnifying mirror up to her face so she could "check out" her makeup. I'd look like hell after hauling her in and out of the wheelchair to the shower chair, wet from washing her in the shower, stinky from perspiration and hot flashes and have no makeup on myself because I'd not taken the time to put it on so that I could get to her house before her husband left for work. I willingly and (most days) happily did these things for Linda and usually was able to keep her from seeing my frustration and sacrifice by telling myself "wouldn't you want to have someone who would do this for you if the tables were turned". Linda always expressed her gratitude and apoligized for her "perfectionism".

As her friend I understood how necessary it was for her to feel "in control" of something in her life but it was only the grace of God that kept me from strangling her some days.
Today, a year and a half since she died, I find peace in knowing that I helped her live as normal a life as possible, and look good, while dying.

For all of the CALS out there, I say keep up the hard, frustrating, selfless, sad and exhausing work of caring for your loved one. There is no greater joy (after a time)
and no sweeter peace than that which comes from caring for both body & soul of one
that you love.

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads!

Blessings,
Jeanne

[Paty]

Hi Trustinggod:

I totally agree with you, there's nothing that can give us CALS more joy than to make
everything possible to make our lives PALS a little more bearable.

May God bless you for all you did for your friend Linda.

Love

Paty
Baja California, Mexico
Cals to late husband Jorge
Dx 10/17/05
Died 12/30/07

[jimercat]

Thank y'all for sharing your pics and stories!

We can all be inspired by each of your experiences!

Putting faces to ALS shows us we truly are not alone.

[fiddleplayer51]

Here are pics of my PALS (who just started posting here as jpruppe) and me, my PALS standing by a huge stump he was splitting in our yard for firewood last October 2007 five months before bulbar-onset ALS diagnosis, and under a favorite tree on the trail he faithfully maintained for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in the Shenandoah National Park on March 15th 2008 one day after his diagnosis. Now he is barely able to walk with crutches and has to be helped to dress. And so it goes.

All the best to everyone. May we all have courage and strength to carry us through these days.
Jane

[jimercat]

Jane!

Y'all are a good looking couple!

Thank you for sharing! We all need to see that ALS is our neighbor next door!

[fiddleplayer51]

Thanks CJ! I think we're all fine lookin' folks and I'm grateful to you for applauding jrienecker who first posted pics of her father. You took her to task and suggested we all post our pics.
You're right, CJ...we indeed do need to see that ALS is our neighbor next door! I also want to thank you for all the helpful input you give to so many people who post on these forums. I'm sure many many PALS and CALS have benefitted from your posts.

(This is off-topic, but many times I've thought to tell you that I used to live in Statham on the Winder Road. I don't remember the route number, but that was back in 1976-77. I worked as the receptionist for the McGregor Printing Company on Washington Street in Athens and one of the linotype printers was run by a guy from Monroe. Small world! Take care, CJ!)
All the best PALS and CALS, :wink:
Jane

[Icanmanz]

Jeanne, all I can say is God bless you!

Irma

[fiddleplayer51]

Jeanne,
I love your honesty! I think you're a hero for admitting to feelings that may not sound pretty, but are so truthful. We've all had feelings like that, but I really admire you for admitting to it.
Linda was so fortunate to have you and how selfless you were. I love your description:

"Looking back today it's hard to remember how frustrated I'd feel spending two or more hours getting her showered, made up and dressed for the day and have her ask me to hold the magnifying mirror up to her face so she could "check out" her makeup. I'd look like hell after hauling her in and out of the wheelchair to the shower chair, wet from washing her in the shower, stinky from perspiration and hot flashes and have no makeup on myself because I'd not taken the time to put it on so that I could get to her house before her husband left for work."

I can just picture it, but what a saint you were. And as you said, it's hard for you to remember today your frustration then. That's the beauty of memory. Those kinds of feelings recede with the passage of time until they all but fade from memory. Memory of pain is like that too.
Thanks again for your honesty, Jeanne. That kind of honesty helps others not to feel guilty and helps others to be honest.
Peace to you, Jeanne. Linda is resting peacefully and you can be at peace knowing you gave your all for her and helped her get to that peaceful place.
Jane

[trustinggod]

Jane & Irma,

Thanks for the kind words of affirmation.

One of the best things about this Forum is the "knowing" that others understand.

Something has changed in me since my time helping Linda and I often feel
misunderstood in the world at large. It's nice to have a place to share with others
the blessings I've received from my experience with a horrible desease.

I continue to pray for a cure. In the meantime, my hope is to help other PALS/CALS in any way that I can.

Warm regards,
Jeanne

[duplinwino]

I really like seeing these pictures. Keep them coming! I finally got mine to work!!

This is Brian

[Jeannie]

I think this is such a fabulous idea. It is great to put faces with names. I hope that you are all doing well
God Bless
Jeannie

[jimercat]

duplinwino,

Your daughter looks just like your hubby!

Great pic!